The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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J Altern Complement Med · Mar 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialYoga therapy decreases dyspnea-related distress and improves functional performance in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study.
There has been limited study of yoga training as a complementary exercise strategy to manage the symptom of dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Elderly patients with COPD participated safely in a 12-week yoga program especially designed for patients with this chronic illness. After the program, the subjects tolerated more activity with less DD and improved their functional performance. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger, more sufficiently powered efficacy study.
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J Altern Complement Med · Mar 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of auricular acupressure on menstrual symptoms and nitric oxide for women with primary dysmenorrhea.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of auricular acupressure on relieving menstrual symptoms and decreasing nitric oxide (NO) for women with primary dysmenorrhea. ⋯ This study supports the effects of auricular acupressure by seed-pressure method in improving menstrual symptoms, and offers a noninvasive complementary therapy for women with primary dysmenorrhea.
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J Altern Complement Med · Mar 2009
Clinical TrialImmediate effect of slow pace bhastrika pranayama on blood pressure and heart rate.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate effect of slow pace bhastrika pranayama (respiratory rate 6/min) for 5 minutes on heart rate and blood pressure and the effect of the same breathing exercise for the same duration of time (5 minutes) following oral intake of hyoscine-N-butylbromide (Buscopan), a parasympathetic blocker drug. ⋯ Vagal cardiac and pulmonary mechanisms are linked, and improvement in one vagal limb might spill over into the other. Baroreceptor sensitivity can be enhanced significantly by slow breathing (supported by a small reduction in the heart rate observed during slow breathing and by reduction in both systolic and diastolic pressure). Slow pace bhastrika pranayama (respiratory rate 6/min) exercise thus shows a strong tendency to improving the autonomic nervous system through enhanced activation of the parasympathetic system.
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J Altern Complement Med · Feb 2009
Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea.
To compare the effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea. ⋯ Ginger was as effective as mefenamic acid and ibuprofen in relieving pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Further studies regarding the effects of ginger on other symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea and efficacy and safety of various doses and treatment durations of ginger are warranted.
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J Altern Complement Med · Feb 2009
Treatment of pneumothorax following acupuncture: is a closed thoracostomy necessary for a first choice of treatment modality?
Acupuncture is currently the most popular of all forms of complementary and alternative medicine, and acupuncture is not dangerous in the hands of a trained practitioner. However, complications of acupuncture including pneumothorax have been reported. ⋯ We treated the acupuncture pneumothorax by making a choice between the closed thoracostomy and the percutaneous chest drainage based on a smoking history and chest radiographic findings. In the absence of smoking history and pulmonary emphysema or bullae, we got favorable results, not by the closed thoracostomy but only by the percutaneous chest drainage with a narrow-bore central venous catheter.